Learning about HIV: Sources Matter for HIV Testing in Nationally Representative Sample of Youth and Young Adults

Background/purpose:  Approximately fifty-percent of youths ages 15-24 have engaged in some form of sexual intercourse. Not surprising, they were disproportionately affected by HIV and made up most new HIV cases in the United States.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended volunteer and routine testing for all sexually active individuals between the ages of 13-54. However, HIV testing rates remain low for youth between the ages of 15-24.  One explanation for such low HIV testing rates was found in research literature which has focused on parent-youth communication. Findings revealed that parent-youth communication impacts sexual risk behaviors. This study is a similar attempt at exploring how does parent-youth communication differ from external sources in influencing HIV testing.

 

Methods: A logistic regression was used to examine interaction effects of 1,366 youth (ages 15-24) from those participating in the National Survey of Teens and Young Adults on HIV/AIDS a nationally representative survey. Survey data were collected from September 21, 2012- to October 31, 2012, and asked participants about their attitudes and beliefs about HIV and other STDs. Teenagers (ages 15-17) were invited to participate in the survey through their parents. Because of the potentially sensitive subject matter, parents were provided a summary of the survey and asked to provide consent for their teen to participate.

 

Results: The overall model was statistically significant R² =.30 F (26, 854) = 000, p < .001.  The results highlighted a statistically significant inverse relationship between parent-child communications about HIV/STDs and HIV/STD testing (β -3.72; p<.001).  There was also a negative association between learning about HIV and other STDs and HIV testing among youth (β -.50; p<.001). The interaction effect between learning about HIV from parents, and HIV stigma, indicated that HIV stigma positively influenced learning about HIV and other STDs from parents and its association with HIV testing among youth (β -12.86; p<.001).

Conclusions/Implications: Results from this study contributes to the larger body of work regarding the impact of parent-child communications on sexual health among adolescents. Here, the results suggested that while adolescents were likely to get tested, parental attitudes toward HIV/STD may impact their attitude, and willingness, toward HIV/STD testing. This may be a result of parents stigmatizing viewpoints on, and about, HIV/STDs. Additionally, the results may be indicative of the fact that parents are influential regarding adolescent attitudes and perceptions on HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS testing. Lastly, the findings underscore an unique position regarding where additional research is needed as it pertains to parent-child communications and HIV/STD testing.